The Fast and the Furious (1955)

User Rating:

5.1/10   

Directors:

John Ireland
Edward Sampson

Writers:

Roger Corman (story)
Jean Howell (writer)

Release Date:

15 February 1955 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Mystery

Plot:

A man wrongly imprisoned for murder breaks out of jail. He wants to clear his name, but with the police pursuing him...

Plot Keywords:

Automobile | Public Domain | Beautiful Woman | Drag Racing

Cast

John Ireland	...	Frank Webster
Dorothy Malone	...	Connie Adair
Bruce Carlisle	...	Faber
Iris Adrian	...	Wilma Belding, Waitress
Marshall Bradford	...	Mr. Hillman, Race Marshal
Bruno VeSota	...	Bob Nielson, Truck Driver (as Bruno Ve Sota)
Byrd Holland	...	Doctor
Larry Thor	...	Detective Sergeant
Henry Rowland	...	Motorist in Park
Jean Howell	...	Sally Phillips
Dick Pinner	...	Officer Samuels (as Richard Pinner)
Robin Morse	...	Gas Station Attendant
Lou Place	...	Det. Faraday
'Snub' Pollard	...	Park Caretaker (as Snub Pollard)

Runtime:

USA:73 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

UK:PG (re-rating) (2005) | UK:U (original rating) (1954-2005) | Australia:M | USA:Approved (PCA #17117)

Filming Locations:

Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, USA

Company:

Palo Alto Productions

Trivia:

Shot in nine days.

Goofs:

Boom mic visible: Shadow of boom mic visible when Frank and Connie are climbing out of the ditch they were hiding in while the cop car drove past.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Fast and the Furious (2001)

AIP's first film: let loose the hounds of war!

Surprisingly solid production with an obviously very low budget (this was producer Corman's first film, I believe, and he is true to form). About a man on the run who kidnaps a lovely lady in a sports car. Of course, she falls in love with him when he gives her a picnic. Strictly stock footage and poor rear-projection for the race scenes. Some nice touches in the dialogue. It's actually surprising that this film emerges as watchable, but it even ends up being likeable. Well, it took me years to find it, but I can't say I ever expected it to be any good, so I guess I wasn't disappointed. First film for American International Pictures (then known as American Releasing Corporation or ARC, under the auspices of the infamous Alex Gordon, Jim Nicholson, and Sam Arkoff), whose only producers at that time were Gordon, Corman, and (eventually) Herman Cohen, if I got all the names right. Anyway, as most drive in fans know, these guys changed the world of movies, and I guess this little film is where it all started. Well, fast cars and girls in danger is a good film formula, so I guess they didn't pick a bad place to start off.